teaming up

Houston renewable energy company taps 2 industry partners for project

The facility will provide hundreds of jobs with an expected daily output of up to 3,000 barrels per stream that uses both renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel. Photo via Getty Images

A Houston company that's working on a major alternative energy facility in Texas has named two new partners on the project.

Santa Maria Renewable Resources has selected Topsoe as its technology provider, and executed license and engineering agreements, as well as partnered with an engineering firm for its East Texas facility.

The licenses encompass innovations like HydroflexTM and H2bridgeTM technologies. Topsoe’s HydroFlex process layout combined with the H2bridge lower carbon intensity of renewable fuels , and offers greenhouse gas emission savings. The process is part of a sustainable agriculture project currently in development by SMRR in East Texas.

The facility will provide 600 to 700 construction jobs and 300-plus permanent operating employment positions with an expected daily output of up to 3,000 barrels per stream that uses both renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel. The demand for RD and SAF grows,and the aviation industry aims to meet net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

SMRR has also partnered with Chemex Global to commence the front-end engineering design for the facility in East Texas.

“The collaboration with Topsoe and Chemex Global marks a significant company milestone, amplifying the potential of our project,” says Pat Sanchez, founder and CEO of SMRR, in a news release. “The incorporation of these licenses, complemented by tailored engineering insights from both organizations will seamlessly integrate into our ongoing front end engineering design. We’re pleased to collaborate with these industry experts ensuring the smooth progression on this project.”

SMRR is a vertically integrated renewable energy, and biobased production developer.

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A View From HETI

Sage Geosystems and Halliburton are partnering on Project Vector. Photo via sagegeosystems.com

Houston-based Sage Geosystems has selected oil and gas powerhouse Halliburton to provide cementing and stimulation services at its enhanced geothermal project in Nevada known as Project Vector.

“Our technology and experience will support Sage as it advances its geopressured geothermal technology,” Shawn Skobel, vice president at Halliburton, said in a news release.

Halliburton will provide Sage with technical modeling, engineering design, and field execution support as part of its specialized cementing and stimulation services at Project Vector at Ormat Technologies' Blue Mountain geothermal power plant. Sage announced the location of the geothermal project in September.

At the time, Sage said it expected to begin drilling the first well at Project Vector this year, with the first electricity to be generated in 2027 and full-scale production to start in 2028.

The project will use Sage’s enhanced geothermal systems (EGS) method in a two-well system to convert geothermal heat into electricity. The project aims to help meet industrial and residential demand, especially as data centers strain energy grids.

Founded in 2020, Sage has raised $159 million across three funding rounds. Its technology aims to reach Earth’s natural heat source deep underground for more consistent power generation and utilizes engineered subsurface reservoirs to minimize water and energy losses and increase net power output. Through the process, Sage says it can enable reliable, 24/7 power generation.

“One of the keys to scaling next-generation geothermal is combining innovative subsurface technology with the proven capabilities and execution of the oil and gas industry,” Jason Peart, Chief Operating Officer of Sage Geosystems, added in the news release. “Halliburton brings decades of experience in well integrity and reservoir stimulation, two critical components of our development approach. By selecting an established industry leader, we are strengthening our ability to execute Project Vector and demonstrate that Sage’s technology can be replicated and deployed commercially across a broad range of geologies.”

Sage is building off prior success of its South Texas SMECI facility, which began operations in August. Project Vector supports Sage’s growing commercial pipeline, which includes a 150-megawatt geothermal power agreement with Meta.

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